Kodiak Historical Society

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
926002560
IRS 990 coverage
2011–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Location
Kodiak, AK, USA
Phone
9074865908
Rating
86
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Historical Societies & Historic Preservation

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$418,433
Expenses
$547,706
Assets
$3,230,529
Liabilities
$14,276

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

9 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • Kristin O'Lear (Executive Director)
  • Michael Bach (President)
  • Mary Toughas (Vice President)

Highest reported compensation

  • Kristin O'Lear (Executive Director): $55,164 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

Our mission is to facilitate exploration of the natural, cultural, and artistic heritage of Kodiak Island and surrounding communities to create opportunities for the public to discover, share, and exchange knowledge using the collections and resources made available through the operation of the Kodiak History Museum.

What it reported doing in 2024

The Kodiak Historical Museum advanced its charitable mission to preserve, interpret, and share the history and culture of Kodiak Island through comprehensive arts, education, and community engagement programs. During the fiscal year, the Museum developed and installed rotating and permanent exhibits highlighting Kodiaks Indigenous heritage, Russian and American periods, maritime history, and contemporary community stories. These exhibits were accompanied by public opening events designed to increase access and engagement for residents and visitors. The Museum actively participated in Kodiaks community arts initiatives, including regular First Friday Art Walks, offering extended hours, guided exhibit experiences, and artist and historian talks. Educational outreach remained a core focus, with the Museum hosting school field trips, teacher-supported curriculum activities, and hands-on learning experiences aligned with Alaska education standards. Programs served students from Kodiak Island schools and visiting youth groups. Additional educational programming included guided tours, workshops, lectures, and intergenerational activities for adults, families, and seniors. These programs emphasized experiential learning and cultural stewardship, fostering a deeper understanding of local history and strengthening community connection to shared heritage. Direct program expenses supported exhibit design and installation, educational supplies, interpretation materials, guest educators, and program staff time necessary to plan and deliver mission-related activities. These services were provided primarily at the Museum facility and through community events, ensuring broad public benefit. In FY25, Kodiak Hostorical Museum received 5,000 visitors and 500 program participants.

Operating model

Revenue model
Mixed. Its operating money came from several sources; no one source provided a clear majority.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised and expenses are high relative to revenue.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 84
  • Transparency & Controls: 92
  • Accountability: 90
  • Sustainability: 38
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
  • Program expense ratio: 79.3%; rating input score 79
  • Fundraising efficiency: $3.61 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 16; 16th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: Limited
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 6 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 75
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Missing
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: -30.9%; rating input score 9; 9th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 5.9; rating input score 82; 82nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 51; 51st percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 10.1%; rating input score 29; 29th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 6.7% per year; rating input score 100; 60th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 7.2% per year; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 6.4% per year; rating input score 100; 53rd percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 100% of revenue deployed · 79.3% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 8 of 8 board members independent · 6 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $434K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $55K · 9 people listed
  • Consistency: 27 of 27 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 4 filed schedules · includes major donors
  • Filing history: 14 filing years from 2011 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 1 filed money-flow record
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.
  • Staff and benefit plans: Retirement and health plans the organization files with the Department of Labor, and the people in them.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • High — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 16/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 9/100.
  • Review — Accountability: Governance controls: Independent financial-statement audit not reported.
  • High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 29/100.
  • Review — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 51/100.